Penn State Football: the final depth chart projections for the defense in 2022

Penn State Football secondary

Safeties

Starters – Ji’Ayir Brown and Keaton Ellis

Backups – Zakee Wheatley and Jaylen Reed

Cornerbacks

Starters – Joey Porter Jr. and Kalen King

Backups – Johnny Dixon and Marquis Wilson

Nickel

Daequan Hardy

The two-deep in the Nittany Lions’ secondary is outstanding and as a result, it will be one of the strengths of this team.

As the nation’s leader in interceptions and also an all-conference performer last year, Ji’Ayir Brown returns as a starter at safety, and the competition to start alongside him has been another one of the more interesting battles to watch.

Back in January, it seemed like it would be a two-man race between Keaton Ellis and Jaylen Reed, but a breakout offseason by Zakee Wheatley in which he was the team’s ‘Takeaway King’ in both spring ball and fall camp has gotten him into the discussion as well.

However, there’s more to playing safety than just interceptions–you have to be able to defend the run too. Perhaps Wheatley excels in that area as well, we’ll see once the season gets underway, but the bigger and more experienced Keaton Ellis will probably get the first crack at being the second starting safety until someone takes that job away from him; if someone takes it away from him.

Wheatley and Reed will get plenty of opportunities early in the season and will be hot on the heels of Ellis, fighting for a starting spot all season long.

Both starting cornerback spots have been solidified all offseason with Joey Porter Jr. and Kalen King, leaving Johnny Dixon and Marquis Wilson to provide some excellent depth as the two backups at that position.

Finally, Daequan Hardy will once again find himself in the role of Penn State’s nickel corner, and if he can build on last year’s breakout season in that same role, will be a key piece of the defense.